What’s Cheaper in Chicago – To Uber or To Own a Car?

Companies like Uber and Lyft are dramatically changing transportation options in cities all over the world. As you take your third Uber of the week, you might be wondering: Is it more expensive to own a car, or take an Uber for regular transportation? If you live in a large city, you now have your answer.

Mary Meeker’s annual internet trends report is an influential report on the state of technology. Meeker is a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers. Among the other topics covered in the nearly 300-page report was the question of cost between owning a personal vehicle versus taking an Uber instead. She looked at five of the largest cities in the United States and came to the conclusion that it’s actually cheaper to use Uber than to own a car in four of those five cities.

Uber vs. car in Chicago

Here in Chicago, Uber comes out on top. It costs about $116 a week to own a car, versus around $77 a week to rely on Uber to get around. Out of the five cities studied, the only place where it’s more expensive to use Uber rather than a car is Dallas, where it’s $181 a week for Uber compared to $65 to own a car.

Meeker’s report measured its weekly car costs by studying gas, maintenance, parking, and insurance data. They measured the costs of Uber rides by studying prices during peak commute times in February 2017 for UberX and UberPool rides.

Of course, this probably confirms what many Chicagoans already know. We can get around the city easily thanks to services like Lyft, Uber, Divvy, mass transit, and dockless scooters and bikes currently being tested and introduced in the city.

Car accidents and Uber

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are certainly convenient and, in many instances, a cheaper alternative to other forms of transportation. However, if you’re injured in a car accident as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you might have a lot of questions. Do I need to hire an attorney? Who pays for my expenses resulting from the accident? What about my medical bills? Lost wages? Physical therapy? Whose insurance will pay out—the driver’s or the company’s? Should I sign anything?

In the early days of rideshare, Uber and Lyft’s insurance coverage policies were unclear. When there was an accident, the companies would attempt to deflect the responsibility onto the driver by taking advantage of loopholes or challenging cases in court. Their policies have since changed, with both the company and the driver having mandated insurance coverage, but passengers may still find it difficult to receive compensation when injured in an accident.

If you were in an accident while traveling as a passenger in an Uber, Lyft, or other ride share vehicle, it’s important that you investigate your legal options before signing anything. The Chicago car accident attorneys at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers will advocate for your best interests. Get in touch with us through our contact form, or by calling 312-600-9585 to schedule a consultation.